Katt has also assisted the artistic directors of The Malthouse, Perth Theatre Company and now The Hayman Theatre Company team.

This devised piece can be seen at The Hayman Theatre Upstairs, in building 102, Curtin University off Kent Street, Bentley. Park in car park B13 (free).

The 75-minute performances begin at the earlier time of 7.00 each evening until Saturday 6^th August.

The set comprises five wooden lockers in a sports changing room. The lockers are multifunctional, acting as storage, changing rooms and even entrances to the room. A creative set design from Rhiannon Walker and Anna Lindstedt, who, with Bianca Roose and Eloise Carter were also responsible for the costume design.

     As the stage lights rise, we find a group of five sports enthusiasts exercising. They are dedicated sports people, passionate and jealous. We hear from each of them, their aims in life. For one it is to see his daughter succeed in the Olympics, so he becomes overprotective and yet brutally demanding. The others believe in healthy food, focusing the brain, and putting your heart into the ambition. Some are determined, others insecure.

    Soon the bitchiness begins, stubbornness abounds; even during Pilates and personal training the completion is fierce. Then there is the unmentioned drug scene and gene testing.

Brett Smith’s sound design was excellent, with plenty of variety and quality production, smoothly operated by Jack Wilson. Karen Cook’s lighting was ingenious and showed the skills involved for perfect use of barn doors and how light can be used to full dramatic effect. Slick lighting operation by Maddy Mullins.

Adeptly directed by Kathryn Osborne, with dramaturg assistance from Declan Brown, the standard of acting was very high, with each cast member capturing his or her numerous characters instantly and convincingly. There was humour, tears, drama and rehearsed ad-libs. I could not have expected more form the cast, however, the final result was a ‘Grandma’s beige cardigan’. You could see the immense amount of work, time and love that had been poured into the project, but the result was something that few would want – A beige cardigan. To be blunt I found the show at times puerile, 30% too long, bitty and tedious. Harsh words, but I think that the final, somewhat ‘polite’ applause backs my opinion. A shame as the team worked so hard – a captivating, well-constructed script is so important.

Curtin’s Performance Students and The Hayman Theatre Company have combined to present this Stage One production. Stage One is a Curtin University initiative that annually gives a WA playwright the chance to see their own work brought to the stage.

‘IN a BONY EMBRACE’ can be seen at the Blue Room Theatre, 53 James Street, Northbridge. The 70-minute performances are nightly at 7.00 pm until Thursday 10^th; on Friday 11^th and Saturday 12^th there are two shows, one at 6.00 pm and the other at 8.30 pm.

Designer, Sally Phipps’ impressive set is of an office, home and bar – all in pink. The floor and walls are bright carnation pink. The furniture is stylish Scandinavian and in the corner is a bunch of helium balloons. The chairs are matching pink, emerald green and mauve. Sally was helped in her design by Daisy Coyle, Madeleine Mullins and Sally Davies; with the numerous props sourced by Anna Lindstedt and Jess Fowles.

The hanging lights are 70s style, but are trendy and coming back into fashion. The lighting design by Rhiannon Petersen, assisted by Dylan Dorotich, is very well thought out and most effective. Lauren Beeton was lucky enough to have one of Perth’s top sound designers, Ben Collins, mentoring her. Production manager, Karen Cook was helped by her stage managers, Daniel Suelto and Becca Jackson, and ASMs Mai Han and Reef Jennings.

Luciana Kember and Annika Jane had to design costumes from the sexy, to nerdy and suave.

        In the dark, ten young people file onto the stage area. When the lights come on, there is a fight for the prime ‘star’ position in the line. This is to be the aim of the youngsters for the next 80 minutes – just to be that little bit better than their partners.

      At the breakfast table, April (Chelsea Gibson) decides that she has gone off her fun-loving partner, Sam (Alexander Gerrans). When the two arrive at work in the same office, the tension is high.

     Left behind in the flat are randy Lila (Beth Tremlett) and her long-term lover, Gavin (Nathan Whitebrook). They decide it is time to start a family, Gavin’s way, slowly and responsibly!!

     At work, shy and nervous (and possibly never-been-kissed) Harry (Daisy Coyle) confides to Danny (Tristan McInnes) how much she loves him; but she knows that at work, one should never mess on their own doorstep. Sylvia (Anna Lindstedt) loves men, but seems happy to just sort out people’s romance troubles.

     Holly (Jessica Nyanda Moyle) is a deep thinker, having deep, heart-breaking conversations with her absent partner and herself. In the corner of the bar sits the ‘sex magnet’ known as Jaxon (Sean Guastavino), always waiting to tell the next girl just how wonderful he is, or to point out to poor shy Matt (Kane Parker) what an ugly loser he is.

Gita’s script is superbly observed. The audience roared with laughter, not just at the hilarious dialogue but at the situations; situations that we have all experienced, and cringed at in retrospect.

Directed sensitively and subtly by Adam Mitchell, with Teresa Izzard looking after the movement, this play travels at an express pace, carrying the audience smoothly along for the bumpy ride. The acting was completely natural, adding to the madcap situations that kept cropping up.

An exceptionally funny play that has you recalling the many times you too have escaped from such terrible situations. Exceptionally funny and highly recommended.